Betania Santos is on her way to earning her master’s degree at California State University, Los Angeles, next summer, and toward helping others through her sociology research. But her college journey has not been without its challenges, and she hopes to inspire others to persevere through the tough times.

WHITTIER >> For more than 13 years, Melinda Bernhardt has volunteered at PIH Health Hospital-Whittier helping to comfort patients, especially those in the emergency department. She and her black Labrador retriever, Dawson, are a pet therapy team who, in the words of hospital officials, “have brought many smiles and comfort to our patients.

SANTA FE SPRINGS >> Seven years ago Stephanie Rios stopped using illegal drugs. Today she is volunteering to counsel preteens and teens who have abused alcohol and drugs at Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse,whose mission is to save lives, unite families, and protect the community by providing addiction counseling and healthy living services at its five locations throughout Los Angeles County What started out as an internship in February for the Rio Hondo College drug studies program, has turned into something more.

A teacher gets their students prepared academically to go out into the world and reach greater heights. Sheila Edwards, eighth-grade American history teacher at Sierra Vista Middle School in Covina, is also teaching her students to stay grounded and remember to help those who may not be at those great heights.

SANTA FE SPRINGS >> For nearly 30 years, Virginia De Salvo has volunteered her time serving the clients at the Interfaith Food Center. Fifteen years ago her husband, Joe, joined her. “I wasn’t able to lift anything after a surgery,” Virginia De Salvo explained, “so I wasn’t going to go in.

LA HABRA HEIGHTS >> For the past decade, Phil and Krystal Emery’s love of dogs has made a positive impact on La Habra Heights and surrounding communities. With their nonprofit, Pet Prescription Team, they help pet owners train and certify their family pets for assisted therapy visits.

RESEDA>> Marc Litchman left more than his appetite behind when he wolfed down a hot Polish at Fab Hot Dogs last week. He discovered he’d lost a wallet stuffed with $2,500 in Christmas cash — enough money to tip everyone who’d kindly helped him throughout the year.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Whittier Daily News is profiling 12 Everyday Heroes who help serve the community in different ways. This is the fifth profile in the series. LA MIRADA >> If it’s happened in this city, Myllie Taylor has either had a hand in making it happen, or knows the story behind it.

PICO RIVERA >> Beverly Walker is affectionately known as the city’s “pillar of literacy” for her tireless promotion of reading in the community. She is a founding member and the president of the Friends of the Pico Rivera Libraries,and she runs its bookstore.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Whittier Daily News is profiling 12 Everyday Heroes who help serve the community in different ways. This is the third profile in the series. PICO RIVERA >> From a very young age, David Luna knew he wanted to be a teacher.

WHITTIER >> A trip he made as a teenager with his church youth group has had a lasting impact on retired Methodist pastor Bill Miller, and subsequently those he has encountered in his life. At 80 years old, the Whittier resident has spent most of his life lending his voice to causes such as poverty, peace, the environment and the homeless, to name a few.